The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-03-03
LEAV ES ONLY.
A Short Sentimental Sermon
by Henry Blount.
A Reflection of His Own Heart's Beam
ings, as He Sits all Alone in His
Dreamings.
Wilson Mirror.

w l1SOD MItIOI
Life is a probation, and Death Is
Times vestbu,e leading into Eternity,
Therefore the salvation of the soul is
the first and most important thing to
which man should turn his earnest and
serious attention. 1t should be the
chief aim of existence-the acme OF
eyerv endeavor, and the beckonlng
goal of every aspiration. 10 attain
this consummation there is pathway,
rough and rugged, and each one must
tread for himself, finding, as he goes
on in the fulflment of lifes highest
duty, that until the final goal is reach
ed, there is toll without rest, and dit
fculties without end. Yet, in view of
this grand, prominent, momentous
fact, life, in many instances, IS passed
and treated as a mere bubble upon the
sea of Time; and hence it is, when the
harvest time has come and the reaper
is ready, there is so little meet tor ms
sickle. Pause one moment, ye busy
throng, and think of man, made above
all other animals; endowed with all the
faculties necessary for grasplng the
grand problem of life; fashioned and
formed and made in the image and
t likeness of his Creator, yet SO absorbed
J, with the pcrishing things of this world
: that when he is called into the pres
il ence chamber of his maker, the record
q ing angel-viewing the long, sad III
>. neral train of wasted opportunities ane
misspent hours, tearfully writes dowr
in the final decree, "Nothing bu
= leaves" Take if you please tn
worldly young man, fresh from tn
BARRIERS and ready for the circle OF tn
tair and lovely; look at the spotles
purity of his f,ultless attire; behold tn
exquisite grace of his charming car
riage; but tenderly though, and sym
pathizingly too, the delicate pose {
the dainty mustache; inhale. If yo
can, the lingering odor OF the tragra1'
cloves, as he breathes out his apt an
we'll chosen quotations; regard him {
he struts in society the cynosure OF a
traction, and in the eyes OF his ION
s. Ophelia the very "glass of fashion an
s the mould of FORM" His deportmer
81 NAV be without fault and his conve
sation may be pure and chaste, yet
he has lost sight of the grand end
" life, what will death find when 1t Ia
1! its dissecting knife upon his anatom..
..Nothing but leaves Take Il
worldly young lady of society, Il
blind devotee of fashion; see her as 81
enters the parlor and dlspenses h
IS wealth of smiles upon her courtly ira
of knightly admirers; the blush, viii
now and then, tinges her cheeks, te
that the sanctuary of her heart IS st
F. pure and chaste. The stream OF co
versation which ripples from her IN
tells of culture, of education and
fnement. The many little acts
gentleness, and words OF klndne
lC which mark her daily department,
49, of a sweet and lovely disposition.
fact, speaking after the manner OF M
"she is just perfectly splendid, a
we'll fitted by the charms of head a
heart to reign the queen OF home.
if she has lost sight of life's high
5 duty, she too will carry to her Max
{. n Nothing but leaves" Take
adroit and successful politician,
has reached the "full meridian OF
= glory," but finds in his old age Il
,, like Woolsely, he too has served
king of his ambition rather than
God, and has in his keeping moth
but leaves" And SO it is with
= classes. The astronomer with his
~ array of discovered worlds above
geologist with all his suDterran
mines of wealth; the warrior, with
Ne" his victories on "dress PARADE
philosopher, with his golden char
wisdom; the poet, with his lmpld
of song-yea, all these may be ARA
rye in all the glories of this world
wearing the garlands of esteem
admiration, entwined by the dei'
hands of their fair ones, yet II
feet be not shod with the prepara
II of righteousness, they will and v
\ thew reach the "other side" that
here has been a failure. Yes, tai
and what on earth can be sadder
y, we dying man? The grim messeng'
LOW. almost at their door -sills; and loo
S just back upon the misspent lives, thel
nothing to comfort strengthen
for the trying ordeal. Yea ther
= Nothing but leaves sad memory We
>. No veil to hide the past
And as they trace their weary way,
And eount each lost and miSspent {
rr,,o,. 1lx- f,uf at last